This factsheet provides an overview of the key political appointments within the U.S. government that are most relevant to international religious freedom (IRF). The primary IRF positions that the president appoints derive from the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA): the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom at the U.S. Department of State; the Special Adviser for International Religious Freedom on the National Security Council (NSC) staff; and three of USCIRF’s nine Commissioners. In addition, several current State Department special envoy and representative positions—created either by acts of Congress or by presidents or secretaries of state—are relevant to IRF promotion. Those positions include the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, the Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues, and the Special Coordinator on Tibetan Issues.

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